Looping aeroplane swing



June' 27, 1933., w c, BAL'KE 1,915,879

LOOPING AEROPLANE SWING Filed March 14, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet '1 InventoryZZ-zdm 6. gal/3e June 27, 1933.- w Q BALKE LOOPING AEROPLANE SWING 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1930 Inventor fiilz'zrn/ flllomey June27, 1933. w, c, BALKE LOOPING AEROPLANE SWING 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMarch 14, 1930 l w a m a m 4 By I! a Attorney June 27, 1933. w BA1,915,879

' LOOPING AEROPLANE SWING Filed March l4 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 In venlor15y fiawaarih A llomey Patented June 27, 1933 LOOPING AEROPL ANE SWINGApplication filed March 14, 1930. Serial No. 435,865.

The present invention relates to a looping aeroplane swing and has forits prime object to provide a swing with mechanism operable by anoccupant therein to put the swing in motion and to cause it to loopabout the stationary shaft mounted in a stand.

Another very important object, of the invention resides inthe provisionof a swing-of this nature which will afford considerable amusement,thrills, exercise of a healthy nature and which is of simpleconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable,adjustable, and thoroughly eflicient and reliable in use and operation.

5 With the above and numerous other objects in, view as will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novelfeatures of construction, and in the combination and arrangement ofparts as Will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. V I Inthe drawings: e

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus embodying thefeatures of my mvention,

Figure 2 is a'fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken awayto show the manner in which the operating means are applied to the swingbody, '7

Figure 3 is a detail vertlcal longitudinal section through the swingshowing the operating mechanism,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View through the seat,

Figure 5 is a detail view of the rocker, Figure, 6 is a sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the sliding power rods, Figure 8 is adetail sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 9,

Figure 9 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 9.-9 ofFigure 3, I

Figure 10 is'a perspective view of one of i the foot rests,

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view through the upper end of the stand,

Figures 12, 14 and '15 are sectional views taken substantially on thelines 1212, 14 -14 and 1515 respectively of Figure 11,

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line1313 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will 1.

be seen that numeral 5 denotes a rectangular base frame from which risesa stand S. which supports at the top thereof-a pair of alined relativelyspaced brackets B. Supported between the brackets B is a stationaryshaft 19 that is secured in position through the medium ofU-bolts 40 andheld against rotation by means of lugs 41 rising from the brackets indengaging recesses provided in the shaft 9- Shaft 19 intermediate theends thereof is provided with a crank 7 A connecting rod;

4 is pivotally connected at its upper end to r the crank 7 by acrank pin18. The purpose of the connecting rod 4 will be hereinafter mademanifest.

Y A pair of swing supports 6 provided at their'upper ends with saddles5', the same being in the nature of plates secured to said ends of thesupport and provided with antie friction bearings 67. The aforementionedsaddles 5 are mounted on the shaft 19 as shown between collars 68 thatare adjustably engaged with said shaft, and fixed collars 69.

Eachof the swing supports 6 have diverging portions connected at theirlower ends .to the fuselage of a swing structure simulating thestructure of an aeroplane. A suitable propeller 43 is mounted on thefront end of the fuselage.

QPP deslgnated by the'reference character 46, and adjacent the forwardend of the fuselage, there is mounted on the frame bars brackets 48 inwhich is journalled a rock shaft 16.

Mounted on the rock shaft 16 is a sleeve49 that is keyed to the rockshaft through the medium of a suitable set screw 50.

Sleeve 49 is provided with a rocker arm 50 and the connecting rod 4atits lower end is bifurcated and straddles the-free end of the arm 50.The bifurcated end of connecting arm 50 as suggested in Figure 3.

Sleeve '49 on oppositesides of the arm 50 is provided with a pair ofarms 3, and the arms 3 of each pair of arms extend at substantiallyright angles to the rocker arm 50.

Each pair of arms 3 support between their rod '4 is pivotally engaged asat 63 with the osite'frame bars of the fuselage are free ends a guiderod '21 that is provided intermediate its endswith oppositely disposedtrunnions 52 rockable in the extremities of.

the arms 3. p

Each of the rod guides 21has slidable therethrough a power rod 2. Oneach rod 2 adjacent the rear end ofthe guide 21'is slidably mounted asleeve 22,and a coil spring 23 is disposed about the rod 2 and arrangedbetween the sleeve 22 and a shoulder 54 provided by enlarging the rearend of the rod 2.

Rearwardly of the shaft 16 is mounted a, fixed transverse shaft 25 thathas its ends sup-c ported in brackets supported on the frame members 46.On the shaft 25 is rockably mounted a pair of levers or sticks 1, there'alined with a selected one of a series of openf ,ings 57 provided on therear of a rod 2, a bolt 58 engaging the alined openings 47 and 57whereby to pivotally connect the free end of the power rod 2 with itscontrol stick 1.

Each rod 2 adjacent its rear end has adjustable thereon a saddle 8 thatis retained at the desired adjustment on the rod 2 through the medium ofa bolt engageable with a selected one of a series of notches 56 providedon the rod 2.

Each saddle 8 has a stud 60.rising therefrom and a foot rest 15 isrockablyengaged with the stud and retain-ed in operative engagement withthe stud through the medium of a suitable lock nut 26.

Each foot rest 15 is substantially T-shaped as suggested in Figure 10and the cross head of the foot rest at its ends has flanges 61 and 62depending therefrom, flange 62 being longer than the flange 61- andbeing capable .of engaging the rod 2 for limiting swinging movement ofthe foot-rest bar in one direction.

Preferably, the swing or car F is large enough to accommodate twooccupants. For

40 the occupants, there is suitably provided in the swing, a seat 11,and the occupants of the swing when seated, may engage with their feet,the foot rests 15 and at the same time with their hands grip a stick 1which will extend upwardly between the legs of each occupant.

In operation, preferably two persons occupy the swing as abovesuggested, and with their feet push on the foot rests 15 and with theirhands gripping thesticks 1 pull the sticks toward them, with the resultthat there is exerted on each rod 2 a push and pull and obviously bycontinuously alternately pushing and pulling on the sticks 1, the swingwill gather momentum as it swings back and forth. As the momentumincreases, the swing will be caused to move in the arc of a circle aboutthe fixed-shaft 19. The above operation is thought apparent from thefact that an occupant or occupants by pushing with the feet on thefoot-rest bar 15, and pulling the lever '1 toward him'will, through themedium of the connection between the lever 1 and the shaft 16, causethelatter to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction or toward the left inFigure 3 causing the swing body or car to swing or move toward the leftin Figure 3. The lever 1 is then swung in an opposite direction, causinga reverse rotation of shaft 16 resulting in a swinging of the swing bodyor car toward the right there being of course at this time no push beingexerted by the feet on the rudder bar 15.

As a safety means, there is provided for the occupants of the car F asuitable safety belt 12 that may be buckled or otherwise secured at itsends to the sides of the fuselage,

with an intermediate portion of the belt passing through a guide loop 13suitably anchored to the seat 11 for position between the occupants ofthe swing.

As is thought apparent, saddles 8, may be adjusted relative-to the powershafts 2, and the connections between the power shafts 2' and the sticks1 may be also easily effected to accommodate either a grown person or asmall child. Furthermore, the adjustments for oneperson may be madewithout disturbing the adjustments previously made on the otherside ofthe swing for the second occupant of the swing so that if desired both agrown person or adult and a child may occupy the swing at the same timewithout inconvenience to either.

Of course, the swing may be controlled by a single occupant, in whichcase, the controls are adjusted in the same position on both sides, andin which instance, the operator would then sit between the two sticks 1and take one stick in each hand. The foot rests 15 are then swung to thedotted line positions shown in Figure 7 and the shank portions of thefoot rests thus provide a rest for the feet a of the single occupant.

The power rods 2 being slidable relative to the guide sleeves 21 willprevent the sticks 1 with which said rods are-engaged, from being forcedback to such an extent asmight injure the occupant or occupants.

The rods 2 being slidable, also relieves compression strain on theconnecting rod 4,. Suitable means for maintaining the movable parts in awelllubricated condition are pro vided, the hood H of the swing beingeasily removable to gain access to such parts of the swing as may belocated under the hood. There is also provided for each of the guides 21a suitable lubricant device 24:.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described inconsiderable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since inactual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, andinthe combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed or sacrificing any of'its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. Aswing comprising incombi'nation a stand, a horizontal shaft fixedlysupported on the upper end of said stand and having a crank portion, apair of hangermembers rotatably mounted on said shaft, a car supportedbetween the lower ends of said hangers, a rock shaft journalledtransversely of said car, a rocker arm on said rock shaft, a connectingrod pivotally connected at one end with the crank portion ofisaid firstmentioned shaft, and at'its lower end being pivotally connected withsaid rocker arm, and manualcontrol means for rocking said rock shaft.

2. In a swing of the character described,

a fixed horizontally mounted shaft having a crank portion, supportingmeans for said shaft, hanger members rotatably mounted on said shaft andnormally depending therefrom, a carriage supported between said hangermembers, a rock shaft journaled in said carriage, a connecting rodoperatively connecting said rock shaft with the crank portion of thefirst mentioned shaft, a control stick mounted in said carriage, a powerrod, means operatively connecting said power rod with said rock shaft,and means ope-ratively connecting said power rod with said stickwhereby, upon rocking of said stick, movement is transmitted to saidrock shaft for.

swinging said carriage relative to the first mentioned shaft.

3. A swing comprising in combination a stand, a car, means forsuspending said car from said stand for swinging movement relative tosaid stand and means for swinging said car, said means including a fixedshaft mounted above said car and having a crank portion, a rock shaftmounted in said'car, a rocker arm fixed on said rock shaft, a connectingrod pivotally connected at one end with said rocker arm and pivotallyconnecting at its opposite end with the crank portion of said fixedshaft, and manual means for rocking said rock shaft.

4. A' swing comprising in combination a fixed shaft, hangersrotatablymounted on said shaft and normally depending therefrom, a carsupported between said hangers, a rock shaft journalled in said car, andhaving a sleeve secured thereon and provided with a rocker arm, aconnecting rod pivotally connected at one end with said first mentionedshaft laterally of the said shaft and at its opposite end with saidrocker arm, a guide sleeve, means pivotally mounting said guide sleeveon said first mentioned sleeve, a power rod having an end portionslidable through said guide sleeve, a sleeve slidable on said power rod,yieldable means engaging said rod and said slidable sleeve and normallyposite end with said rocker arm, a guide sleeve, means pivotallyconnecting said guide sleeve to said first mentioned sleeve, a power,

rod having an end portion slidable through said guide sleeve, asleeveslidable on said 5 power rod, yield-able means engaging said rodand said slidable sleeve and normally urging said slidable sleeve intoengagement with. said guide sleeve, a pivotally mounted stick supportedin said car, and means for adjust-ably connecting said stick with saidpower rod, a saddle mounted on said power rod, means for securing saidsaddle in fixed adjusted position on said power rod, a footrest,'andmeans for pivotally mounting said foot-rest on said saddle.

6. In a device of the character described, and in combination a rockshaft, supporting means therefor, a sleeve mounted on said rock shaftfor rotation therewith, two pairs of arms projecting radially from saidsleeve, a guide sleeve rotatably mountedbetween the arms of each pair ofarms, a pair of power rods, there being one power rod for eachof saidguide sleeves, and each of said power rods having one end slidablethrough its guide sleeve, means on said power rods engageable with theguide sleeve of each of said power rods, a pair of sticks pivotallymounted on said supporting means, there being one stick for each powerrod, means op eratively connecting each stick to its power rod, wherebyupon rocking movement of said sticks power will be transmitted to saidrock shaft.

7. In a device of the character described, a rock shaft, supportingmeans therefor, a pair of parallel arms projecting radially from therock shaft, a guide sleeve rotatably mounted between said arms, apivotally WILLIAM 'BALKE.

